Thursday, 31 July 2014

Thought for the day: "Sometimes I wonder what it is like to be normal ... Do those people even have fun??"

After weeks of very hot and dry weather, today I have been musing on the subject of making rain!!

In Africa rain makers have different methods. Some of their techniques are
scientific at times while at other times purely religious. The
scientific method uses a type of stone often referred to as the crystal
stone on one hand while on the other way the rain maker would enter the
bush and pluck leaves, stems and even roots of plants, shrubs and
grasses. The combination of these things are burned in fire and as soon as
the smoke reached the heavens the rain should start pouring... Is that not
amazing science? But this is true to the core. In the use of the crystal
stone, the performer washes the stone and as soon as the stone starts
glazing the sky starts changing and soon the rain starts. But the latter is
apparently dangerous in some seasons because it often attracts heavy
thunderstorms.

In Nigeria, apparently a place where a lot of prostitution take place, it is a common yearly
occurrence that drought exists at the time when water is most needed. A writer states "I
have witness this happen two years consecutively. The solution to this
was that the prostitutes were forced out to sweep the main roads as a
plea to the god of rain. In addition the chief priest offered prayers and
within the next two days after the ritual ceremony heavy rain fell with
thunderstorms that wrecked some buildings."

Endless and unbearable heat that has been tormenting
Russia for weeks non-stop makes many people wonder whether there is any
possibility to escape from hot summer temperatures.

Test
pilot Alexander Akimenkov, who studies the issues of artificial climate
change, said that just one squadron of fighter jets could solve the
problem of draught on Russia's entire European territory. The pilot
believes that combat aviation can easily shower Russia with rain.

It
turns out, though, that Russia's Air Force does not have any combat
planes designed to struggle against the draught. Aviation can be used to
disperse clouds when there is a need to have the clear blue sky for an
important national event. The planes drop chemicals on the clouds and
they eventually disappear. The chemicals are provided to the Air Force
by civil laboratories of the Russian Meteorological Service and a number
of research institutes. Civil specialists board military planes to
conduct the chemical attack on the clouds.

However, pilot Akimenkov claims that practically all Russian combat
planes are equipped with thermal traps which are used in combat action
to mislead infra-red guidance missiles.

A senior specialist of the Russian Meteorological Service said that the pilot does not understand what he is talking about.

"Dispersing
clouds with the help of chemical substances and provoking artificial
rain above the territory where there is not even a cloud, as it is now
above Moscow - these are two completely different things. We do know how
to accomplish the first goal, but we have serious problems as far as
the second one is concerned. Scientists do not know how to provoke rain.

Another scientist put forward an idea to build a giant tube the height
of 500 meters. Powerful fans would pump hot air up the tube, the air
would get cool above the ground and would thus create rain clouds.
However, it is hardly possible to build such a tube, not to mention the
fact that the rain would cost a fortune.

Of course, plans to make rain are not new.. In the plains of America attempts have been on going for years...

It is not surprising that European American
settlers in the Great Plains, dependent on agriculture
and plagued by drought, would develop
an interest in rainmaking. The earliest
attempts involved the concussion method,
which was premised on the theory that gunpowder
explosions triggered friction and generated
nuclei to produce rain.

In 1890 Congress
appropriated funds to put this theory
into practice. The task was given to Gen. Robert
St. George Dyrenforth. Experimentation
began on the c Ranch in Andrews County,
Texas, in 1891 and continued at San Antonio,
Texas, in 1892. No rainfall occurred. General
Dyrenforth was dubbed "General Dryhenceforth,"
and the remaining funds appropriated
for rainmaking experiments reverted to the
Department of the Treasury.

The public did not give up on rainmaking.
Frank Melbourne of Australia, the "rain wizard"
who claimed to possess a "secret formulae"
to produce rain, launched a successful career
in Goodland, Kansas, in 1891. Although
Melbourne guarded his techniques, other
rainmaking companies soon claimed knowledge
of his method. By 1892, the Goodland
Artificial Rain Company and the Swisher Rain
Company competed for business in South Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas,
Colorado, Utah, and California.

By 1893, five
rainmaking companies hailed from Kansas, all
claiming use of Melbourne's method. Even
then doubters were still in abundance across
the Great Plains. Not much had changed since
the early days of rainmaking: once while Melbourne
was working in the Nebraska Panhandle,
Old Jules Sandoz rode down to watch;
following the performance that produced
thunder, wind, and a few drops of rain complete
with double rainbow, Old Jules remarked
to his neighbors, "I'll keep catching skunks for
a living." Eventually, fraudulent practices disillusioned
farmers, and rainmaking companies
lost support.

By the end of the nineteenth century, interest
in irrigation had supplanted interest in
rainmaking in Kansas. Still, Americans' faith
in science and progress carried the rainmaker
into the twentieth century. The cereal manufacturer,
C. W. Post of Texas, maintained belief
in the concussion method. From 1911 to 1914,
Post executed "rain battles" near Post City,
Texas, detonating dynamite along the Caprock
Escarpment. Inspired by an occasional rain
fall, Post optimistically predicted that rainmaking
would one day replace irrigation.
By World War I, as public interest in traditional
methods of rainmaking waned, scientists
turned to airplanes and cloud seeding
with sand, dust, and dry ice. This method used
existing clouds, rather than the earlier attempts
to create clouds, and met with some
local success.

Welcome to Sunny Crete - the Road to Agios

Of course there is another way to get rain without chemicals, science or mystery, without Gods or Shamanic Rites... It is quite a simple method....

Spend a long time waiting for rain.. Then get two hoses and a leaky joint.. Borrow a key for the local Deaf Centre, where the Plotment is. Buy the connectors for a tap. Run the hoses up the garden but find that the water pressure is insufficient to force the water up to the water barrel. Start filling a watering can half way up the lawn with the water coming out at a trickle. Get a couple of water carriers and another watering can. Spend two hours watering the beans and courgettes and trying to half fill the water butt... Come home exhausted after wrapping up all the hoses, connectors, watering cans, water carriers, some onions, courgettes ( I think they are marrows really!) for a well deserved G & T ...

Yes - that is guaranteed to do it .. Next morning it will be raining sure as Mustard...
Well it was this morning !!!! Thank you Mister Weather !!!

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

A day at home and an opportunity to try to start getting things ready for the trip to Germany. Ordered a multifunction ladder on Monday and was surprised to find that it was dispatched the same day. Was astounded to get home yesterday and find that Yodel (a delivery firm) had called and failed to deliver a parcel while we were out... Yodel arrived today with some bags for Susie - so it was not as fast as I thought...

But, on the bright side, having to spend an additional day away in Barton, I thought I would definitely miss any deadlines on getting some new magnetic signs for the Bothy. However, a call to Atech who made my last lot and a cash deal - surprisingly cheap in fact - means I can pick them up on Friday afternoon - in time to go away.... Decided to stick with the additional logo.. a Bard Act to Follow...

I quite liked this one but was the wrong shape for the back of the van so will use it for some other marketing I think...

This was quite moody - but was not sure that it would be clear on the back of the van so will again find a use for it somewhere ..

So I went with this one as it was the right shape for the back and also included the zither and a wistful look...
I think the Green should go with the Green Stripe across the back as well ...
And for the other panel -

Toyed with a "Die Ganze Woche Da" but decided against at this stage... Maybe if I get more bookings in Germany

So - almost ready to go for it - it is a long way but never mind...

So - back to the Volls Wagen I think - while Susie makes me a new shirt .....

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Thought for the day : Little known facts..."So apparently there is an asteroid called Valjean. Because its designation is 24601. .."
So, as we drove down to the South Coast - Susie driving, my mind started drifting to the lands of Mythodea and my forthcoming trip to Germany - where it now seems that the Game System will be trapping us the wrong side of a great Crystal Seal or Portal into the Mirror World where the Ratio (the big boss bad thingummy) and the others of the Forsaken now live.....

If that is not enough- having ported us through into this other world - they have decided that the Ratio may be so powerful and evil that it cannot be allowed back into the real world... so they have shut the gate behind us !!! Well thanks for that you powers that be !! So it seems that retreat is unacceptable and impossible and we will fight the Ratio !!! The Declaration of War has already been made so here we go....

Well as I mused, I thought the best idea was to write a song!!! And the best way I know of writing a song is to steal it from somewhere else... Or rather (!!) as a "musical historian" I would find the original words to an otherwise well known sort of traditional song........

My inspiration was of course my good friend Rick, who will be a battle leader of the new armies - the First Spear - and his new look as our noble (harsh but fair) leader Zeno Sidonius!!!

With his Plume of feathers - the Lord Captain of the Grand Expedition... (they may not be actual feathers but I am a Skald, (or Bard) and am allowed a little poetic license....

Together with his wife who plays Finya of the House Dunholme, he stands proud in his burnished leather (notice the rhyme coming together??)
All he needs of course is some Chainmail - probably a little weathered - and he will be altogether fit to fight the Ratio......

Needed a good tune and in this case Luke Kelly provided the starting point....And so we have "Dressed to fight the Ratio"....In January I had no fearI thought it might be a good idea..To sail my boat to MythodeaTo go and fight the RATIO, the RATIO...I'm weary of the RATIO....It's time to fight the RATIO..

I was wearing.......

A plume of feathers

Burnished Leathers

Chain - mail weathered

All together, fit to

Go and fight the RATIO....

In February I felt quite cool

I charged the shield-wall like a Bull

Though many said I was a fool

I trained to fight the RATIO...

I was wearing....

In March again I took the field

I fought the Undead with sword and shield

Fought ten to one - I'd never yield

'Cos I would fight the RATIO...

I was wearing....

In April things they got much worse

By the Oily Pestilence I was cursed

But by a healer I was nursed

To live to fight the RATIO... the RATIO...

I'm weary of the RATIO...

I rose to fight the RATIO...

I was wearing....

The month of May wasn't very nice

I found myself in the Schwarze Eis

Friends dragged me back and I paid the Price

To go and fight the RATIO

I was wearing....

The next month was the month of June

And we were singing a different tune

For we would be there all too soon

To go and fight the RATIO

I was wearing.....

July it all got a little real

Nobody asked me how I'd feel

When they went and opened the final seal

That led to the land of the RATIO... the RATIO..

They're a scary lot that RATIO...

Maybe I'll skip the RATIO....

I was wearing.....

But August came like a rising tide

We hope we're properly fortified

'Cos they locked us on the other side

So we'd better fight the RATIO....

I was wearing.....

So now we fight , we show no fear,

Our destiny is pretty clear

So drink with me and down your beer

And sing "Death to the RATIO"

I was wearing.......

A plume of feathers

Burnished Leathers

Chain - mail weathered

All together, fit to

Go and fight the RATIO....

Just need to get back to try playing and recording....

So Happy Birthday to Susie .. before I forget ....
And a glass or two to celebrate - Cheers!

Monday, 28 July 2014

Thought for the day: "Don't give up on your dreams - stay sleeping"
Now I do have one or two little foibles!... "Say it is not so" I hear you say !! But sadly it is true...
Many have seen that on occasion the parking of cars can raise an eyebrow or two and sometimes provide their own type of static road rage....

But please do not get me on the subject of phones in general and smart phones in particular. I will get hot under the collar when people start getting their phones out and checking them while apparently engaging in conversation, or attempting to dine.... Sad to say, even in formal settings such as a good Masonic Festive Board, I have not only seen the strange sight of people taking their jackets off (shameful!!) but just recently I have seen phones being brought out at the dining table...

And that brought this story to mind......

and the result....

A salutary lesson - Luckily, my brick does not connect to the intertweb as far as I can see. I use it to speak to people - what a novel thought..... Was watching "Click" on BBC yesterday and saw that York was a town that is now offering free wi-fi - but the T and C's require you to share your browsing history - and they can track locations and identify phones historically... So, log on and share your identity, age, gender, likes, and probably your faceboook friends, allowing targetted advertising.

Never manage that on my phone thank you very much.... Oh that reminds me, someone phone a couple of hours ago and left a message - I wonder if it was important???

Saturday, 26 July 2014

Thought for the day : "I live in my own little world - but it is okay - they know me here.."

and so - from my good friend Iwan comes this little gem - I thought worth sharing ..

NOAH TODAY

In the year 2014, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in Somerset and said:
"Once again, the earth has become evil and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: "You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard -
but no Ark. "Noah!" He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is
the Ark?" "Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed."

"I needed a Building Permit."

"I've been arguing with the Boat Inspector
about the need for a sprinkler system."

"My neighbours claim that I've violated the
Neighborhood
By-Laws by building the Ark in my back garden and exceeding the height
limitations. We had to go to the Local Planning Committee for a
decision."

"Then the Local Council and the Electric Company demanded a boat load
of money for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead
obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told
them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of
it."

"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local
trees in order to save the Greater Spotted Barn Owl. I tried to convince
the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no
go!"

"When I started gathering the animals the RSPCA took me to court.
They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They
argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and
inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space."

"Then the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that I couldn't build
the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your
proposed flood."

"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights
Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building
crew."

"Immigration are checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work."

"The Trades Unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with ark-building experience."

"To make matters worse, the Internal Revenue Service seized all my
assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with
endangered species."

"So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."

"Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky."

Noah looked up in wonder and asked,
"You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"

Friday, 25 July 2014

Thought for the day : "Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?"

An interesting day today - the first time I have crossed the boundaries of Dyfed-Powys Police Headquarters since 2006..

It was the day that the new Museum was being launched, it is to be set up in the old bar at the Headquarters, but the actual day was to commemorate the presentation of a painting - entitled the "Timeline" of Dyfed Powys Police.. to represent the entire history of the policing of the area...

It was strange to enter the new building - notable for the fact that the cladding stone did not match that of the neighbouring buildings - a hoop we were forced to jump through when building both the police headquarters and the Communications Centre... The new building was of some other stone and a surreal slate style cladding... Inside, I was restricted to the main conference area - the one used for the emergency planning that the building was designed for and the new ACPO suite I was not allowed to see...

It seemed strange being presented with a whole building and feeling alien and not allowed to have a wander around... I looked a little wistfully at my old stamping ground - knowing that I previously had unfettered access..

The meeting itself included a number of old colleagues. It was noticeable that the old habit of wearing name badges (those designed by myself back in the day) is not something done these days. Faces that should be familiar remained nameless... As my own appearance has changed quite a bit - I was not immediately picked out by many - but was surprised by the old colleagues - mainly staff who worked for me - who approached with warmth and friendliness...

Even the Chief Constable was anonymous as though everyone should know who he was... Sadly the DPP website does not include photographs of senior officers, indeed the Finance Officer comes up with "Restricted" page error, and so some Superintendents passed me by - me not caring enough to challenge them for their name and me obviously not someone to be remembered...

However, the Chief Constable was there - I had caught his name and he was pointed out to me - so I made the point of saying hello, he was friendly enough but it was clear that he had other engagements - or there were more important people to speak to rather than the funny guy with the long hair....

The new facilities were well designed for the presentation. Here the Chief Constable says a few words and Kevin Smith the staff officer, now retiring but who will be taking on the mantle as curator of the new museum stands in the background with Charles Griffiths- the old Curator just in the shot...

Charles made one of his excellent historical presentations, recounting from 1285 with Watch and Ward to the present day in 15 minutes - not a mean task... Key points were 1830 - a year after the "new" police force in London where Aberystwyth unanimously voted against having a police force!! It would not last !!!
It was one of my greatest regrets that supporting him for ten years I was unable to provide a location for a full time museum - having to make do with the occasional exhibition in carious corridors of the force. I failed to get a proper storage location - having to make do with a garage at Ammanford police station .. He wrote a book of the history of the Force, and I proved unable to get that off the ground - but it was later published after I left the force.... He had unending enthusiasm and was devoted to the history of the force - indeed of his own Royal Ulster Constabulary as well as many Force histories.... I am now so glad that there is an element of support for the concept of a museum .... and for maintaining the history of the force...

A number of dignitaries were there as well as the current group of "Student Officers". Apparently they are no longer "Probationers" these days - but they had an afternoon off and seemed to be on a three line whip to attend.. Time passes so quickly... They had no idea of who I was and my small part in the history..

As Charles' story recounts the changing of the force badges under Chief Constable Ray White, the current logo and badges indeed, I was thinking - yes !! I designed those!! Sat with a small team as we played with the images as we developed the Quality Support Department and the entire branding of the force...

I looked at the Police Headquarters itself and thought to myself - I helped build that as the two man Organisation and Planning Department.. An old colleague Nigel reminded me of our role in the Force Development Department .. and I thought back to introducing PACE, Human Rights, developing Sub Divisional Policing - restructuring the force into 8 sub divisions to allow the new duties of Superintendents under PACE. Later - restructuring into four divisions - as though we had not started there !!! but with less senior officers of course....

A conversation with Jackie Roberts the retired deputy Chief Constable includes the information that the computer and technology department is still the envy of the country with other forces wanting to benefit from the systems and principles that exist in the force for adaptable computer systems - which seems to be the legacy that I created in the early days when we refused large central systems and developed special and fit for purpose bespoke systems - 17 of which wrote, though soon passed on to those who had the skills at coding ....

But today was about a presentation - and so it was that the Chief Constable received the painting from the artist... Each person (with one exception) a real picture for the archives... All the buildings key to the history of the force...

It turns out that Dyfed-Powys Police are the last of 43 forces to get a Timeline Painting.

The artist is Michael John Ewins (A.S.A.I).. His website says :

Mick specialises in fine detailed water
colour paintings. He has, over the last 5 years, been
commissioned by 32 Chief Constables to paint their
individual forces from an historical perspective.
28 of those commissioned have been completed and are
available on this website.
The remainder are at varying stages of completion.

Mick's paintings are reproduced as limited edition
prints, which are signed and numbered by him. Each year
new pictures are added to his portfolio and his limited
editions are fast becoming collectors items as his
skills are recognised and appreciated.

Mick was there today to present the painting and it was a key moment for him as well, as he had finally done all 43 forces and presented all 43 painting and was therefore retiring after 19 years of painting forces..

Of course - there can always be errors - and I am not sure if that is true in the painting ..

Kevn outlined two issues from the painting one which may not include a "real person"

Part of the timeline was to include the glorious match in 1972 where the all Blacks were beaten
at Llanelli.. Now I did not join until 1976 - but the following is still valid..

There were two main stories from that eventful day ..
First : The Pubs ran dry !! Max Boyce tells it well.. The Town that Boasted both Felinfoel Brewery and Buckley's Brewery ran dry .. I believe this to be true !!!

Second: The Policemen played rugby with their helmets!!!
Now.... I hate to spoil a good story!! Indeed, I am often quoted as telling people "Never spoil a good story by introducing the truth!" BUT ....
As I know to my detriment .. When I joined in 1976 - Dyfed Powys Police not only issued new recruits with second hand uniform ( I had the marks of the sergeant stripes on my first uniform) but we also wore Flat Caps.. DPP did not have helmets !!!
We were known as the Pongo's in training School and I never wore a "Nipple Head" in my career.
So in 1972 - there was no chance that the officers played rugby with their helmets as they did not have helmets.. But the picture represents the ethos of the time - and so I let it lie...

But I can tell you of the time in early February - when the snow was 7 inches on the ground and all police cars were grounded ( we were not trusted to drive in snow!!) when we played frisbee with out flat caps in the alleys behind the old Tesco's.... but that is another story ..

I met some old colleagues today, and surprisingly it was good to see some of them and catch up on what they are now doing...

But for those who may not wish to read an old listing - the day I retired I annotated a decoy duck with the words "Goodbye and thanks for all the fish" (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference) and the words "Iain Sewell 1976 - 2006)" on the base. I placed it in the drainage ditch that was put in place at the building of the Communications Centre.. When preparing for this event I talked with some colleagues who remarked that they had seen the duck there over many years but not recently...

So - after the tea and biccies and the examination of the various photos spread over the area ( none of which included me it must be said !) I decided to check the Pond!!!

Considering that it was only a concrete drainage ditch - the amount of foliage has increased greatly.. There is no real part that you can see water - only the growth of plants ...

Another view shows that it will be very difficult to check all the surface for a random duck!! I stepped inside the barrier and had a closer look along the edges...

Yes.. As you can see - there was no way that I was going to find a duck in this undergrowth..

And so I leave this small reunion, not really knowing if the duck is there or not ... I think it is a little like Schroedinger's Cat... It may be there in the undergrowth or may not .. We do not know of anyone having any reason to go into the pond and remove it ... So it makes sense that it COULD be there ..

Today I looked .. but will not need to look again.. I now know that it is, or is not there and that it can, or cannot be found, but the thought will always be there ....

I know that I left my mark on Dyfed-Powys Police in my 30 years.. I have moved on. It is not important to me that anyone else knows what I did, but I am happy that on the way I touched a few lives and they were happy to meet me and greet me ...

About Me

From the frozen wastes of Northern Norsca, Vollsanger was a Skald of the old tradition - a Bard who was well schooled in the ancient songs and epic tales.

Coming out of the Skadi Mountains one day - he found the Crimson Moon Tavern in a glade with many strange people who had travelled great distances to meet up. The War Host!

Selling a song for a copper - writing songs on demand and entertaining the peoples of the factions. Vollsanger faces new challenges... LARP Awards Bard of the Year 2018. LARP & Re-enactment Skald.Guest Bard at the Conquest of Mythodea in Germany